Gaming Reviews: Jump Force.

Release date: February 15th 2019.

Type of game: Anime, fighting, RPG, crossover.

Story: When the real world collies with many anime worlds, it is up to the player and a team of anime heros to save their worlds from an unknown enemy and an army of mind controlled people called Venoms (not to be confused with the Marvel villain/anti hero of the same name) before it is to late.

My thoughts: This is an amazing game. There is a huge collection of anime characters to play as and you can create your own playable character to fight alongside them and interacted with them (even though your character is silent except when fighting). You can either create yourself, make up your own character, or re-create a character from an anime. You can also chose which type of fighting style you want your character to have (either from Dragonball Z, Naruto, or One Piece). And you can also join three teams. Team Alpha (led by Goku which fights off the Venoms), Team Beta (led by Luffy which tries to recapture territory from the Venoms), and Team Gamma (led by Naruto which does stealth operations like spying and collecting data). Along with the story mode, you can also do team battles both online and offline. And you can customize your character as well (by buying them outfits and special fighting moves). Also when the characters are getting hit, they begin to show signs of damage (like their clothes getting dirty or torn and themselves getting cuts and bruises). 

Any dislikes?: There are a number of things that I disliked about the game. One of them being the fact that some of the battles can be a bit difficult. Like you can walk through one battle without much difficulty while it takes you several tries to win the other battle. Like the one where Dai from Dragon Quest fought Kakashi Hatake from Naruto. It took me twenty tries before I managed to defeat Kakashi. But what really annoys me is the fact that the enemy will defeat you in a few short hits while they constantly block every attack you throw out at them. This gets annoying really fast.

Also there is a part in the game where it seems that Goku, Naruto, and Luffy have all been killed or kidnapped. And yet turn up later on in the game all ok and saying that they were stuck in-between worlds. I would have prefer it if they have been kidnapped by the villains and that you have to rescue them. Also I would have like it if this game was also a choose your own path type of game. Cause it feels like it in places.

What I would like to see in an update or a DLC: Some more characters from the chosen anime, more customizing items, and perhaps one where you can create more O.Cs but for the online and offline battles.

My score: Five stars.

TV Reviews: Star Trek the next generation.

Release date: September 28th 1987 - May 23rd 1994 (7 seasons. 178 episodes).

Story: Jean-Luc Picard captains the star ship Enterprise as he and his crew continue Star Fleet's mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

My thoughts: This is my favourite series of Star Trek and the only one I have brought on dvd. The characters are great and there is a good blend of action, drama, and comedy in the show. I have brought the complete series of the original show (with Captain Kirk and Mr Spock) and might get around to reviewing it at a later date.

My score: Five stars.

Film Reivew: The Core.

Release date: March 28th 2003.

Story: The Earth's core suddenly stops spinning. Causing huge catastrophises on the surface. Realising that the planet is in great danger, a team of scientists create a train/drill machine to take them to the planet's core in order to jump start it before it's too late.

My thoughts: This is an ok film. There are some things in the film that real scientists could question but the action is good. But what I didn't like about the film is that it never gives us a reason why the core has stopped spinning. In the trailers, they said that a top secret device created by the government that can causes earthquakes to rouge nations was the cause of it. But in the movie, the only time this device was brought up was when they were looking for a second option if they've run out of time. But it is an ok movie and I can recommend it for some people.

My score: Two stars.  

Film Review: The Shining

Release date: May 23rd 1980 (US release). October 2nd 1980 (UK release).

Story: Jack Torrance gets a job as a winter caretaker at a mountain isolated hotel called the Overlook Hotel. Where he and his family would stay during the winter months and take care of the hotel while it is closed. But things are not that easy when Jack is a recovering alcoholic, that his son has psychic powers, and that the hotel may be haunted by evil forces that will take their toll on Jack.

My thoughts: This is one of the most recognisable films based on a Stephen King novel. And it is really good. Stanley Kubrick is an amazing director and it shows as he puts his own blend of filming in this. Even thought Stephen King hated the film, it has become one of the greatest horror movies out there. Jack Nicholson is amazing as Jack Torrance. The way he changes from a short of caring father into a complete psychopathic madman at the end is made great by a slow build up and that the films makes you wonder if the ghost are actually causing Jack to turn insane or the complete isolation of his location and the fact that he is suffering from writers block that is causing it. The other characters are great as well and the locations are amazing. And the climax will leave you on edge.

Just to warn you that this is a horror movie. So it's only for those who are eighteen years and older.

My score: Five stars.

TV Reivew: Open all hours.

Release date: 23rd March 1973 - 6th October 1985 (4 series. 26 episodes).

Story: The many happenings of a shop owner named Arkwright and his nephew/assistant Granville.

My thoughts: This was the comedy series that introduced me to comedian Ronnie Barker. And I have to say that this is a good series. The jokes are good and the characters are memorable. This show even got its own spin off series called Still open all hours. If you like British comedy shows then I would give this a watch.

My score: Three stars.

Film Review: The Fugative.

Release date: August 6th 1993.

Story: Harrison Ford stars as Dr Richard Kimble. A vascular surgeon in Chicago who one night returns to find his wife fatally injured by a one armed man. Kimble struggles with the man but he escapes. Kimble calls the police yet they believe that he killed his wife (due to a misunderstood emergency call by his late wife, lack of evidence of a brake in, and his wife's lucrative life insurance policy). Kimble is charge yet manages to escape when the prison bus that he is on crashes. Kimble then goes on the run in order to clear his name and find the real killer. Yet he is perused by a team of US marshals led by Deputy Samuel Gerard (played by Tommy Lee Jones).

My thoughts: This film was based off the 1960's television show of the same name. And I have to say that it is pretty good. the characters are good and you do feel some suspense with Harrison's character having to be one step ahead of Tommy's character. This film led to a sequel (U.S Marshals. Which I have also reviewed) which was also good.

My score: Four stars.

Film Review: Red Heat

Release date: June 14th 1988 (premiere release). June 17th 1988.

Story: Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as Captain Ivan 'Iron Jaw' Danko. A police officer from the Soviet Union who is sent to Chicago, USA to pick up a drug kingpin and crime lord (named Viktor Rostavili) who has fled after a failed attempted to arrest him. Ivan is assigned with loudmouthed Chicago detective Art Ridzik (played by James Belushi). Can east and west work together in order to capture the criminal? Watch the movie and find out.

My thoughts: This is one of those buddy cop movies (two opposite characters teaming up to solve a case and end up becoming close friends). And I kinda like it. It is one of those movies with an interesting concept and the comedy is good. Even though Arnold is playing a Russian cop, the scenes that were supposed to be in Russia are in fact filmed in Hungary and Austria. This film is a must have for any buddy cop collection.

My score: Three stars.